Portable Universal Smoke Filtration Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable smoke filtration apparatus for holding a smoke filter includes a filter unit having a first filter opening, a second filter opening, and a filter chamber configured for holding the smoke filter. Air entering the first filter opening must pass through the smoke filter to reach the second filter opening. A body portion includes a retainer for retaining the filter unit therein, and a mouth opening. A first cap portion is provided for releasably securing to the body portion opposite the mouth opening, and the first cap portion includes a projection in open communication with the body portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of provisional application No. 62/452,190, filed 30 Jan. 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Cigarettes and similar products for consumption by smoking remain popular across cultures despite known health issues associated with smoking. One reason smoking can be hazardous is that the desired, active compounds in cigarette or other smoke products may constitute only a small percentage of the total resulting combusted products. These products often include various harmful impurities or other combustion byproducts that users may wish to eliminate from an inhaled stream of smoke. Thus, known in the art are various air purifying means designed to clean smoke or smoke-filled air.

Among known smoke filtration apparatus are small or large scale air purifiers designed for purifying the air in a given enclosed space. These apparatus can be inconvenient for several reasons, including needing an internal or external power source for driving fans, the sometimes frequent need to change large and often expensive filters, and in operation, until the air in an enclosed space has been completely cleaned, persons in the space continue breathing smoke byproducts including the aforementioned impurities and toxins. Other smoke filtration apparatus used directly with a smoking article such as a cigarette. These include cigarette holders, usually with a filter apparatus therein. While these articles can accept a filter, such as a charcoal filter, they are disfavored because they last only a short time before needing to be disposed, and are typically only sized for holding cigarettes, which have a uniform and particular circumference.

Hence, what is needed is a universally mountable smoke filter apparatus that can be used with individual smoked articles, including manufactured and rolled cigarettes, cigars, and other articles with varying circumferences, but which can also be used in combination with pipes, water pipes and other non-cigarette-type smoking apparatus. Further, there is a need for smoke filter apparatus which is portable, easy to use, and reusable, and which avoids problems associated with current filters known in the art.

SUMMARY

A portable smoke filtration apparatus for holding a smoke filter, such as a carbon smoke filter, includes a filter unit having a first filter opening and a second filter opening. The filter unit also includes a filter chamber configured for holding the smoke filter in a manner such that air entering the first filter opening must pass through the smoke filter to reach the second filter opening. A body portion includes a means for retaining the filter unit therein, such as having a filter catch, and the body portion also includes a mouth opening. A first cap portion configured for releasably securing to the body portion opposite the mouth opening, the first cap portion having a projection in open communication with the body portion.

a second cap portion includes a second cap opening, and the second cap opening is larger than the mouth opening so that it fits over the mouth opening. The second cap portion is configured for releaseably securing it to the body portion with the mouth opening disposed in it and covered by it. Inside the body portion, the filter unit preferably creates a hermetic seal against the first cap portion and around the mouth opening when the first cap portion is secured to the body portion.

In various alternative embodiments, the first cap portion may include a shoulder for aligning with an exterior of the body portion. For fixation on the body portion, the first cap portion comprises a first channel for engaging a first ridge on the body portion. The projection portion of the first cap portion may have a conically tapered portion and a non-tapered portion, with the conically tapered portion located between the non-tapered portion and the body portion. Alternatively, the first cap portion may include a separable, resiliently deformable plug portion forming the projection.

In other alternative embodiments, the body portion is conical, comprising an upper interior section and a lower interior section smaller in circumference than the upper interior section. The body portion may also have an area of reduced circumference between the upper interior section and the lower interior section. Additionally, the upper interior section may include a plurality of circumferential interior catches for engaging the filter unit. Facilitating the body portion's connection with the filter unit, the filter unit may include a plurality of filter unit grips configured to align with and seat in the interior catches. For separating the body portion from the second cap portion, the body portion may include a grip on the exterior of the upper interior portion, and in other alternative embodiments, for facilitating holding the apparatus, the body portion comprises hand grips on the exterior of the lower interior portion. The hand grips may be characterized as ridges used to seal larger diameter mouth openings on smoking articles.

In other embodiments, the body portion may include a mouth ridge surrounding the mouth opening. The filter unit may be made of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or silicon. Preferably, the filter unit is conical in exterior profile, and includes a filter catch adjacent the filter chamber to hold the filter in the filter unit. For smoke expansion and cooling, the filter unit may include a conical portion between the filter chamber and the first cap portion. The conical shape of the filter unit allows for different diameter smoking articles to be affixed to, or otherwise engage the apparatus.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus may be characterized as a portable smoke filtration apparatus for holding a smoke filter. The apparatus preferably includes a first cap portion and a second cap portion with a body portion releasably connected between them. The body portion includes a mouth opening opposite the first cap portion. A filter unit is configured for insertion into the body portion, such that the filter unit creates a hermetic seal against the mouth opening and the first cap portion. Also, the first cap portion includes a projection extending away from the body portion, the projection being in open communication with the mouth opening, and the filter unit includes a filter chamber, such that smoke entering the projection passes through the filter chamber prior to exiting the mouth opening.

Using the apparatus, a method of purifying smoke includes the steps of providing a filter unit with a filter chamber, providing a body portion with a mouth opening, with the body portion configured to house the filter unit, and providing a cap portion with a projection opening, where the cap portion is configured to hermetically seal against the filter unit. The cap portion is placed over the body portion such that the filter portion is entirely contained in the body portion and sealed against the cap portion and a second cap portion configured to cover the mouth opening and partially overlap the body portion.

The second cap is removed from the body portion and smoke is drawn from a cigarette inserted in the projection through a filter in the filter unit, thereby causing cleaned smoke to emerge from the mouth opening. The mouth opening is of reduced size such that it can be used with a pipe or water pipe as well as a user directly inhaling from it. Additionally, the second cap can be replaced over the body portion. To change the filter, the first cap may be removed and the filter unit removed from the body portion. The filter is removed from the filter unit, replaced, and the apparatus can then be reassembled and re-used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable smoke filtration apparatus;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cut-away view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3A illustrates a cut-away view of a first cap portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the first cap portion;

FIG. 4A illustrates a cut-away view of a second cap portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the second cap portion;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cut-away view of a body portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cut-away portion of a filter unit of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative first cap portion of the apparatus having a detachable plug portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 includes a first cap portion 12, a second cap portion 14, and a body portion 16. The first cap portion 12 is preferably generally flattened, disk-shaped and comprises a circumference complimentary to the body portion 16. The first cap portion also comprises a cigarette holder formed as a projection 18 defining a conical bore through the first cap portion 12. The second cap portion 14 comprises a second cap opening 20 into which the body portion 16 seats, and preferably locks into position.

Referring to FIG. 2, additional features of the first cap portion 12, second cap portion 14 and body portion 16 are shown. The projection 18 of the first cap portion 12 includes both a non-tapered portion 22 and a tapered portion 24 for anchoring cigarettes of different diameters in the projection, and preferably creating an air-tight seal around them. For fixation in the body portion 16, the first cap portion 12 also preferably includes a first channel 26 disposed circumferentially inside the first cap portion 12 that captures a first ridge 28 disposed circumferentially in a complimentary position on the body portion 16. In another embodiment, the connection means between the first cap portion 12 and the first ridge 28 can be a screw-type attachment, or another similar removable attaching means.

The second cap portion 14 comprises a generally conical shape, and includes a series of second cap grips 30 formed on its exterior. Each of the second cap grips 30 preferably extends entirely around the second cap portion 14. A second channel 32 is preferably located circumferentially inside the opening 20 of the second cap portion 14 and corresponds to a second ridge 34 preferably located circumferentially in a complimentary position on the body portion 16. The second cap portion 14 also includes a conical tip 36, and a retaining ring bore 38 extends through the conical tip 36. Preferably, the retaining ring bore 38 is sized to accommodate a conventional key chain or similar structure.

The main body portion 16 includes an upper interior section 40 and a lower interior section 42 separated by an area of reduced circumference 44. Just above the area of reduced circumference 44 are a series of interior catches 46 designed to interface with and retain a filter unit 56 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The exterior of the main body portion 16 outside the lower interior section 42 preferably includes a plurality of grips 48 for allowing a user to hold the body portion 16 when operating the apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first cap portion 12 includes a shoulder portion preferably extending circumferentially around the first cap portion 12 adjacent the first channel 26. Thus, when the first cap portion 12 is installed on the body portion 16, with the first ridge installed in the first channel, the first cap portion 12 is flush with the body portion 16. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second cap portion 14 preferably includes a body chamber 52 for holding the body portion. The body chamber 52 preferably includes a bottom wall 54 against which the body portion 16 rests when the second ridge 34 of the body portion 16 rests in the second channel 32 of the second cap portion 14, removably locking the body portion 16 therein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cutaway view of the body portion 16 is shown. The body portion 16 includes the first ridge 28 for accommodating and retaining the first cap portion 12. Due to the conical tapered shape of the body portion 16, the upper interior section 40 is preferably larger, thus allowing more space for the filter unit 56 (FIG. 6), and thus, allowing expansion and cooling of smoke passing through the apparatus 10, as well as accommodating varying sizes of smoking apparatus mouth pieces which may be affixed directly to the filter unit 56 such as a pipe or water pipe. Toward the bottom of the upper interior section 40, the series of interior catches 46 project circumferentially inward into the upper interior section. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior catches 46 have varying space between them, with less space between interior catches 46 toward the first ridge, and more space between interior catches 46 toward the area of reduced circumference 44. Thus the interior catches 46 are more prone to secure the filter unit 56 in position.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the exterior of the upper interior section includes the grips 49, which are preferably angular shaped to grip a user's fingers when the first cap portion 12 is pulled away from the body portion 16. Proximal to the areas of reduced circumference 44, the second ridge 34 is oriented to be received in the second channel of the second cap portion 14. Below the area of reduced circumference 44, the lower interior section 42 continues the conical shape of the body portion 16 toward the mouth opening 90, through which smoke is drawn by a user. To facilitate that process, a mouth ridge 88 may be present around the second cap opening. On the exterior of the lower interior section 42, the grips 48 are preferably arranged circumferentially, and evenly spaced along the body portion 16 from the mouth ridge 88 to the second ridge 34, to assist with any desired grip by a user.

Referring to FIG. 6, the filter unit 56 is shown in cross section. The filter unit 56 is preferably made of rubber, silicon or a similar resiliently deformable material. The filter unit 56 includes a first filter opening 58. The first filter opening 58 has a circumference, and the filter unit 56 is of a length such that the first filter opening 58 preferably engages the first cap portion 12, with the conical portion 60 of the filter unit 56 in hermetically sealed communication with the projection 18 and the tapered portion 24 and non-tapered portion 22 through it. Below the conical portion 60 is a filter chamber 64. The filter chamber 64 is preferably columnar and sized to hold a conventional cigarette filter (not shown) as well as others. Although the filter chamber 64 is preferably sized such that the cigarette filter will not slide freely through it, a filter catch 66 is preferably disposed adjacent a second filter opening 62. Thus, the inhalation pressure from a user will not dislodge the cigarette filter from the filter unit 56.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the filter unit 56 is preferably uniformly conical on its exterior, such that the filter chamber 64 and portions of the filter unit 56 surrounding it fit snugly with in the lower interior section 42 of the body portion 16, while the conical portion 60 and portions of the filter unit 56 surrounding it provide a space between the filter unit 56 and the upper interior section 40 of the body portion 16, thus facilitating a user removing the filter unit 56 from the body portion. The filter unit grips 68 extending circumferentially away from the filter unit 56 are preferably of sufficient length to engage the interior catches of the body portion 16, and since they are made of the same deformably resilient material, the filter unit grips 68 can bend, allowing them to lodge into and dislodge from the interior catches 46 creating a hermetic seal.

Referring to FIG. 7, the apparatus 10 is shown in exploded view. To assemble the apparatus 10, the body portion 16 is inserted into the second cap portion 14 until the second ridge 34 snaps into the second channel 32, thereby securing the body portion 16 and second cap portion 14 together. As with other portions of the apparatus 10, the second cap portion may screw into the body portion. The filter unit 56 is inserted into the body portion 16 until it seats in the lower interior section 42, with the filter unit grips 68 seated in the interior catches 46 of the body portion 16, thus securing the filter unit 56 in position and creating a seal. Thereafter, the first cap portion 12 can be lowered over the body portion 16 and filter unit 56 until first ridge 28 snaps into the first channel 26, thus securing the first cap portion 12 atop the body portion 16 with the filter unit 56 hermetically sealed around the projection 18 and opening therein.

Referring to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment first cap portion 70 may be provided that includes a lid portion 72 and a plug portion 74 that inserts into the lid portion 72. Preferably, the plug portion 74 is made of the same or a similar resiliently deformable material similar to the filter unit 56, while the lid portion 72 may be made of a hard plastic material, thus allowing the plug portion 74 to be snapped into the lid portion 72. To facilitate such an arrangement, the plug portion 74 preferably includes a plug channel 78 and a tapered insertion portion 80 having a conical profile, and with the plug channel 78 having a circumference corresponding to a rounded bore 82 on the lid portion 72.

The rounded bore 82 is rounded to facilitate entry of the tapered insertion portion 80 therein. Similar to the first cap portion 12, the alternative embodiment first cap portion 70 includes an alternative first cap shoulder 84 and an alternative first cap channel 86 for fitting into the body portion 16. By having a resiliently deformable plug portion 74, the alternative embodiment first cap portion 70 is capable of accepting smoking materials of various types and circumferences, making the apparatus 10 more customizable.

The apparatus 10 having been shown and described, its various methods of use will now be discussed.

In a primary method of use, the apparatus 10 is employed to hold a conventional cigarette. The cigarette is inserted into the projection 18, with the lit end distal from the apparatus 10. A user may then draw air from the mouth opening 90, which draws smoke through the projection 18, and through the filter unit 56 contained in the body portion 16. As the smoke passes through a filter in the filter unit 56 it is cleaned prior to exiting the mouth opening 90. Because the projection has a tapered portion 24, and optionally because it may be made of a resiliently deformable material, a manufactured cigarette is held in the projection 18. Additionally, rolled cigarettes or similar shaped items are also held in the projection 18.

If a user is smoking from a water pipe or similar smoking tool, the apparatus 10 can be used in multiple ways. First, the mouth opening 90 may be inserted into the mouthpiece of the water pipe, wherein the user inhales through the projection 18. Used in this manner, smoke will travel in a reverse direction, but will still pass through the filter due to the filter unit's 56 air tight connection between the mouth opening 90 and the first cap portion 12. Alternatively, the filter unit 56 can be removed from the body portion 16 by removing the first cap portion 12 and used for a resilient fit between parts, such as by being inserted into the downstream of the water pipe, with the bowl inserted into the filter unit 56 for a secure fit. In other arrangements, the first cap portion 12 may be removed, with the filter unit 56 remaining in the body portion 16, the filter unit 56 joined to the enlarged mouthpiece of a hand pipe and smoke drawn through the mouth opening 90 with the apparatus 10 and hand pipe securely held in one hand.

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable smoke filtration apparatus for holding a smoke filter, the apparatus comprising: a filter unit having a first filter opening and a second filter opening, the filter unit further comprising a filter chamber configured for holding the smoke filter such that air entering the first filter opening must pass through the smoke filter to reach the second filter opening; a body portion comprising means for retaining the filter unit therein, the body portion further comprising a mouth opening; a first cap portion configured for releasably securing to the body portion opposite the mouth opening, the first cap portion having a projection in open communication with the body portion; a second cap portion having a second cap opening, the second cap opening larger than the mouth opening, and the second cap portion configured for releaseably securing to the body portion with the mouth opening disposed therein; and wherein the filter unit creates a hermetic seal against first the cap portion and around the mouth opening when the first cap portion is secured to the body portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cap portion comprises a shoulder for aligning with an exterior of the body portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cap portion comprises a first channel for engaging a first ridge on the body portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projection comprises a conically tapered portion and a non-tapered portion, the conically tapered portion disposed between the non-tapered portion and the body portion.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cap portion comprises a separable resiliently deformable plug portion forming the projection.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion is conical, comprising an upper interior section and a lower interior section smaller in circumference than the upper interior section.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an area of reduced circumference between the upper interior section and the lower interior section.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the upper interior section comprises a plurality of circumferential interior catches for engaging the filter unit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the filter unit comprises a plurality of filter unit grips configured to align with and seat in the interior catches.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the body portion comprises a grip on the exterior of the upper interior portion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the body portion comprises hand grips on the exterior of the lower interior portion.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mouth ridge surrounding the mouth opening.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter unit comprises a resiliently deformable material.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter unit is conical in exterior profile.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter unit comprises a filter catch adjacent the filter chamber.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter unit comprises a conical portion between the filter chamber and the first cap portion.
 17. A portable smoke filtration apparatus for holding a smoke filter, the apparatus comprising: a first cap portion and a second cap portion with a body portion releasably connected between them; the body portion having a mouth opening opposite the first cap portion; a filter unit configured for insertion into the body portion, such that the filter unit creates a hermetic seal against the mouth opening, and the first cap portion; the first cap portion having a projection extending away from the body portion, the projection in open communication with the mouth opening; and the filter unit comprising a filter chamber, such that smoke entering the projection passes through the filter chamber prior to exiting the mouth opening.
 18. A method of purifying smoke comprising the steps of providing a filter unit with a filter chamber; providing a body portion with a mouth opening, the body portion configured to house the filter unit; providing a cap portion with a projection opening, the cap portion configured to hermetically seal against the filter unit; placing the cap portion over the body portion such that the filter portion is entirely contained in the body portion and sealed against the cap portion; providing a second cap portion and configuring the cap portion to cover the mouth opening and partially overlap the body portion; removing the second cap from the body portion; and drawing smoke from a smoke source inserted in the projection through a filter in the filter unit, thereby causing cleaned smoke to emerge from the mouth opening.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of replacing the second cap over the body portion.
 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of removing the first cap and removing the filter unit from the body portion. 